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Original poster

Would it be mad to move abroad and back during GCSEs and A Levels?

54 replies

SongsOfSongs · 27/02/2026 10:41

I have 2 DDs. DH has just heard of a possible job offer abroad (Asia) that would be for ~3 years. If we moved, DD1 would do Y9-Y11 and GCSEs abroad, but would return for sixth form. DD2 would do Y7-Y9 abroad and would return for GCSEs. Would this be terrible?

We moved from our home country when they were 5 and 3, and they changed schools when starting Y5 and Y3, so they've already had a bit of upheaval and change in their lives, but plenty of families move more I would think. I wouldn't have them move mid-GCSEs or A Levels, but in between. Would this work out ok or are there more difficulties than I realise?

We really enjoy living in the UK, but despite DH making pretty good money (I'm disabled and thus cannot work), we cannot afford to buy a home here. We hope that going away for a few years with higher pay and lower taxes may allow us to return and live a more comfortable life.

OP posts:
ExcellentDaydream · 27/02/2026 10:47

Would you want to try and get them back into the same schools and would this be likely? I think that would make the transitions easier (appreciate that in some areas sixth forms are all colleges instead). It's a big upheaval socially for them at those ages but it sounds like an amazing opportunity.

3WildOnes · 27/02/2026 10:46

Your eldest would no longer qualify for student finance so could you afford tuition fees and maintenance for her?
You could probably argue home fee status as it is just a temporary move but if you weren't would you becanle to afford international uni fees?

noblegiraffe · 27/02/2026 10:44

If the eldest would be doing GCSEs abroad then they will be following in the English curriculum? Sounds like school-wise it would be ok, but you'd need to do the sixth form application stuff from abroad which would be tricky.

Some schools also start the GCSE curriculum for some subjects in Y9 so there might need to be a bit of catch-up.

None of this is insurmountable though.

Littletreefrog · 27/02/2026 10:43

Would they follow the UK curriculum whilst abroad?

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